The incident occurred yesterday (Apr 24), as a Thai AirAsia flight from Don Mueang Airport approached Phuket International Airport in Mai Khao.
As the aircraft prepared to land around 3:30pm, passengers witnessed a waterspout forming over the sea, accompanied by dark clouds and heavy rain.
A video clip capturing the dramatic scene was later shared on the Facebook page ‘Focus Khonkaen’, quickly gaining attention online. In the video, a visible column can be seen twisting over the ocean as the plane approached the runway.
The pilot, assessing the deteriorating conditions and reduced visibility, decided to call off the landing and kept the plane in a holding pattern until the weather improved. The aircraft later landed safely without incident.
Thongchai Montree, 38, who posted the video, said he was traveling with his family to Phuket when the unusual weather phenomenon unfolded.
“I was filming the sea and the islands from the window when the clouds suddenly darkened. Then the tornado [sic] appeared ‒ it was shocking. I’ve never seen one that close before,” he told reporters.
He added that he quietly recited prayers during the tense moments in the air.
Local residents said such weather events are not uncommon during certain seasons on Phuket, although for many onboard the flight, it was a first-time and unforgettable encounter with a tropical whirlwind.
Large water spouts moving through the anchorage in Chalong Bay caused a storm online earlier this month, with many local reports also branding the phenomenon a ‘tornado’.
Several boats appeared to have suffered minimal damage, but no injuries were reported as caused by the phenomena.